Here are the keys to the game for Dallas according to the Sporting News:
1. Don't get blown out early. Brad Johnson is not the kind of quarterback who can bring the Cowboys from behind. The more he's forced to throw the ball, the more his flaws are exposed. He's at his best managing the game, making good decisions and handing the ball off. The Cowboys fell behind 21-7 in the first quarter and 31-7 in the third quarter against the Rams, forcing Johnson to throw 34 passes. If he throws more than 25 passes, Dallas will lose.2. Run the ball against Tampa's cover 2. Tampa Bay's defense is predicated on not giving up the big play, which is why they play their safeties deep. The Cowboys, who have struggled to run the ball consistently, must get Marion Barber close to 100 yards to have any chance at beating the Bucs. Tampa Bay tries to stop the run with seven defenders, enabling their safeties to play off the line. The Cowboys, who have one of the NFL's biggest offensive lines, don't need to do anything fancy. They need to line up and blow the much smaller Bucs off the line of scrimmage since they won't be dealing with an eighth defender in the box a lot of the time.
3. Block the corner blitz. Few teams love the corner blitz from the slot more than the Bucs. It's a staple of their defense, and if the Cowboys don't block it, Ronde Barber will create havoc. It's imperative that Brad Johnson, a 17-year veteran, recognizes when it's coming and attack the area vacated by Barber. That's not as easy as it sounds because Barber times his blitzes so well.
Game Prediction: Cowboys 28, Bucs 21
